The Shed Notebook: Am I Ready to Garden?

With all the rain this week, I looked around my front flower beds looking for signs of spring bulbs. No bulbs. What did I find? All the weeds that didn't get pulled last fall. When the weather got so cold in December why didn't those weeds get killed. Maybe I am not quite ready to garden.

When I think about two big galvanized tubs that were moved from Mom's during the winter, I see dirt that needs to be added. I see items that need to be pulled out that ended up there during the winter. I think I can blame sweet Riley for that. Maybe I am not quite ready to garden.

Seeing roses that didn't get cut down, vegetables that didn't get pulled out, and more weeds in the raised beds that didn't get removed I know now I am not ready to garden.

I think I will creep back into the house, pull my blanket around me, and watch cooking shows. I know longs days will bring the energy it will take to tackle the garden projects. Right?

The Shed Notebook: Making a New Friend

Today I made a new friend. It is hard to decide whether a person should be a new friend at this time in life. They need to be honest, sincere, share valid and true information, and treat me with respect . Dr. McGinnis did all of this today and more.
I went to this orthopedic specialist today about my knees. Five years ago I visited another doctor in Colville and he said, "Yes, you have bone spurs, you don't want knee surgery yet, wear better shoes. "

Today I learned that my knees are bone on bone. Arthritis doesn't get better. Knees  won't get better. I can buy the most sensible shoes with the most expensive inserts, but nothing is going to fix my knees. Fortunately I can still get  around and only have pain when I climb stairs. or overdo walking. I am one of the fortunate ones.

My new friend Dr. McGinnis kindly and gently told me that he is doing knee surgery on me , but not yet. In fact he will do both knees three months apart. Guess what folks? I am chubby. I am at higher risk for the surgery.  He helped me by outlining a plan to get me unchubby for surgery, set me up with PT, got knee braces,and gave me shots in my knees for my pain.

Why do I share this? At our age we often get fearful  about what is going on in our bodies and don't want to take that next step toward healing. I took it today, found a new friend, and see a rosy future. If you are in a similar situation, take the next step. I felt the stress just flow out of my body today.

The Shed Notebook: Procrastination Expert

Remember the basement project I talked about yesterday? The project I wanted to complete today?
It just didn't get done. The illustration above was not done by me, but a few of the examples could be true.
I think a nap sounded nice. The cats and dogs all needed my love. I had to go next door to visit my brother to make sure he was alive and well. I couldn't leave my competitors on Words With Friends and Trivia Crack waiting for me all day. Oh... and then I needed to read the paper, browse through a new catalog, and read the grocery ads. Just when I was about to head down the basement I just knew I would feel better after a nap. Then I had to find a missing document and navigate the Social Security website . (Feel my pain?) Guess what? Then it was time to think about dinner, then do the dishes, then feed the cats, then write a blog post. Sigh. I did just check though. No crisis. It is all still waiting for me in the basement.
If you need any tips on procrastination I think I have reached expert level. Just ask away.

The Shed Notebook: The Story of the Basement

When we moved to 514 the basement became the place to put everything we didn't know where it should go. The basement has a bedroom, a pantry, and a place to do laundry, and a whole bunch of other space. This space has been filled with boxes, tubs, bags, and misc. furniture.
Once we decided the purpose of The Shed, all the craft items and other tubs and boxes of "stuff" found there way back to the basement.
We laid down the carpet we claimed from Mom's living room. We found a great chest of drawers at a local second hand store, and moved other furniture to the basement that had been other places in the house, shed, and garage.
Let's just say it has been a slow process. I worked gung ho one week-end, then got busy with The Shed. I think tomorrow is going to be Basement Day. I have set a goal to get the craft area organized, the pantry useable, the boxes and bins put away, and figure out how to get lots of other "stuff" back upstairs and out to the truck to head to the dump.
The collage above shows the chest of drawers that has gotten organized a bit,  the wall that stores wreathes, the chair that needs fixing, and the pantry which has been started. I hope to do some after pictures very soon. Junebug found a tub of pillows that is working well for her bed.

52 Cups of Poetry: Poem #2 : Near the Window

My brother discussed music on his blog this morning, which then caused interesting comments to pop up about the types of music we love and remember from our youth. You can find his post here.

When I was reviewing my collection of poetry I had written through the years this evening I came across the poem below. 

I now live next door to the room with the window. . My brother lives in our childhood home so I can still climb up the stairs, sit by the bed and look our the window. The stereo is gone, the old typewriter is gone, the Nancy Drew books are gone,but I can play that music on Pandora, search for poetry on my computer, use the flashlight on my phone, and read Nancy Drew on my tablet. I just might have to go next door and do that. 

However, I would rather do it like the old days.

Near the Window

 The lamp near the window glowed long into the night,

the wonder of words kept me turning the pages.

Curling up with Nancy Drew, Bess, and George

created a life of intrigue and mysteries to be solved.

Finding poetry at the public library and saving words

as I hunted and pecked on the manual keys.

The stereo filled the hall room with beautiful sounds.

I wore out certain songs as I listened again and again.

I joined the Broadway cast of My Fair Lady and Oklahoma too,

and The Ray Conniff singers backed my up on Somewhere My Love.

How many times could I repeat Three Dog Night singing One

While belting out the lyrics with a makeshift microphone?

Near the window I could breathe in spring,

In winter the panes frosted, then melted in a thaw.

If opened in summer a breeze gave a small reprieve,

Burning leaves crept in at the closing of fall.

The neighbor kids gathered for Kick the Can or Spoons, but

 I cocooned myself in my bedroom upstairs.

Finding comfort near the window with my pile of books

Broadway seemed visible, images from poems remained.

I didn’t pine away about a misspent youth.

I still carry the words and remember the poetry,

And l hear those melodies when I

sit near the window in my childhood room.

Christy Woolum

Fifty-Two Cups of Poetry: Poem #1: Not For a Year

Recently my friend Teresa recommended a book to me called 52 Cups of Coffee by Megan Gebhart. She had heard the author speak and was inspired by the idea of finding something to do each week for a year. In the book Megan found strangers and sat and had coffee with them. Her book is filled with stories of the people she met. You can learn more about her and her book here.
Teresa and her husband decided to try a new recipe every week. I really loved that idea. I shared the book with my sister Carol and she suggested an idea for us. How about writing a poem every week? I knew I wanted to get back to writing as more of a ritual. I loved this idea. I am a bit behind, but will catch up.
The book I read for inspiration today as I composed my first poem was "The Poetry Home Repair Manual" by Ted Kooser. Kooser has had a huge influence on my writing. You can learn more about him and his books here.
Here is what I composed for Week 1. Kooser's Chapter 8 "Writing from Memory" provided ideas.

Not For a Year

I didn’t feel her death would come for a year.

There would be time for advice on growing bigger tomatoes.

I would learn what to do when my toenail fell off.

She would remind me patiently and expertly what each pill was for in my box.

Black Friday would find us side by side on her bed ordering gifts online,

And then she would walk me through the directions

for making her prized fruit cake.

I would get better at maneuvering her wheelchair,

I would stop finishing her sentences,

I would also remember to bring the socks, her purse, and the mail,

And not forget to read the obituaries ahead of time.

Fruitcake didn’t get baked before Christmas.

Angels are now adorning the shelves of people she loved,

Her daughter wraps herself in a bright -colored buffalo checked flannel shirt,

We say toast after toast as we smile through tears,

remembering a life well-lived.

Christy Woolum, Janurary 28, 2018